Mechanical toy.



B. F. BAIN.

MECHANICAL TOY.

APPLICATION FILED 2.9. 1911..

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETSSHEET 1.

I mvzu'ron wrrmzssss B. F. BAIN.

MECHANICAL TOY.

APPLICATION FILED APR/9 19w.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

FIG.7

i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN F. BAIN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

MECHANICAL TOY.

Application filed April 9, 1917.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BENJAMIN F. BAIN, a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in 'by a positive' latch mechanism. That construction requires a distinct element for retaining the bucket in position for a material period of time while it is receiving a load, an adjustable member for releasing the bucket upon receipt of a predetermined amount of load, and other parts not necessary' in the present invention. Furthermore,

the prior construction requires a nice adjustment of parts not found in the present case, and the mechanism may be rendered inoperative by a number of causes, as by the formation of rust on the latch member, or the distortion thereof, due to such handling as these devices must necessarily receive,

The present invention is designed to avoid entirely this latching feature, and also to secure a more rapid and more continuous actuation of the movable parts.

The object of this invention is to improve the construction and operation of such toys and to provide a device having a fewer number of parts, and a more simple method of control than that set forth in said prior patent. The device simulates the movement of a sand bucket and the operation of a swinging crane. The present form can be constructed at a lower cost, with simpler parts than those heretofore manufactured. A further object is to construct the toy so that it will be continuous in operation, in which the swinging of the crane backward and forward will be at more frequent intervals, and in which the charging of a load into the swinging bucket will be more rapid than in the prior device. Particularly it is designed to do away with the necessity of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 30, 1917. Serial No. 160,867. 7

any latch, or other mechanical part, used to lock the swinging bucket in position during the load receiving interval. This is accomplished by providing a different form of valve in the storage hopper; a larger opens ing therefrom to the load transporting receptacle; a difierent form of load receiving and transporting member, 2'. (2., a non-tilting bucket having a valve .in the bottom; and differently operating discharge means for the bucketall as more fully described below. Except in the diiferences above noted, the operation of this toy is similar to that set forth in my prior patent referred to.

Referring to the drawings, which represent one embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation showing the swinging bucket in load receiving position; Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the bucket in load discharging position; Fig. 3 is a plan view, the bucket being in load receiving position, the storage hopper and manikin being omitted, and the position of the hopper being indicated by a dotted line; Fig.4 is an elevation and partial section on an enlarged scale showing the mechanism for controlling or producing the motion of the bucket carrying arm, the parts being shown as situated in the load receiving position of the bucket; Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 55 of Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a partial side elevation of the storage hopper and its outlet valve, the latter being in closed position; Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6 but with the valve, open; and Figs. 8 and 9'show a modified form of storage hopper and load-measuring device.

The toy comprises a base 1, which is preferably in the form'of a shallow tray provided with upwardly extending ears 2 punched from the bottom thereof, and having holes therein to receive the bent ends 3 of vertical supporting members 4, which support a load storage reservoir in the form of a conical hopper 5 which is fixed to the supports by any suitable means, such as by rivets 6. These supports are rigidly connected near their middle point by a cross bar 7 to which in turn is connected an upright member 8 having its lower end hooked into a side of the tray 1.

At the other end of the tray a frame member is provided in the form of an invertedU-shaped metal strip, having its upright portions 9 attached at the lower ends to ears on said tray. This engagement is secured by means of pins or rivets 11. The upper part of thisU-member forms a horizontal supporting member across the tray and carries the movable crane later described. To the middle point of this horizontal portion is attached a vertical spindle or shaft 13 having a pointed end lat, forming a vertical axis about which the bucket carrying arm swings, as Wlll be more fully described below. Between a collar 15 on this spindle, and the supporting member 12, is clamped by means of riveted head '15, a sheet metal horizontal gear member 16, which lies flat upon the upper side of the horizontal support,'and is rigid therewith. This gear member is provided With a series of vertically extending teeth 17, arranged in an arcabout the axis of the spindle I3.

The bucket-carrying arm consists of two metal strips 17 riveted together at each end and spread apart at their middle portions. At one end these members carry a counterweight 18,while at-the other they are joined to a terminal metal strip 19, which is riveted to the side of bucket 20. The middle portions of the strip 17 are provided with trunnions 21 which'fit into openings in a small metal frame member 22, which restson the point 14: at the upper endof spindle 18, the opposite ends of said frame being bent to form parallel horizontal ears 23'having openings to engage'the spindle '13, as shown at the top of Fig. 4. This frame, and the bucket-carrying arm attached thereto, are readily mountedanddismounted from said spindleby merely-slipping the ears over :the spindle to the position shown in Fig. 4. WVhen so arranged the frame 22 and the swinging bucket arm carried thereby are free toturn-in a horizontal plane around the spindle 13% an axis, and the bucket arm while swinging in a horizontal direction, is also capable of turning in a vertical plane around the trunnions '21 as an axis.

By this means the bucket may haveSubstantially a helical movement. Thatis, it has a swinging movement around a-vertical axis, and simultaneously an up-and-d'own movement about the axis formed by trunnions 21. The component helical movement, in adefinite path, is'produced by the cooperation of the ear members shown, connecting the swinging arm and'thefixed support for said arm. This mechanism comprises the stationary gear member '16 above referred to, the vertical teeth 17 of which intermesh with horizontallyextend ing teeth 24, on the lower curved edge of a cooperating gear member 25, which is formed of a sheet metal plate rigidly attached to one'of the strips 17' of the bucketcarrying arm. The relation "of the gear members 16 and 25 is such that when the bucket-carrying arm 17 is tilted about its trunnions 21 by either a load in the bucket or by the counterweight 18, the gear 25 is caused to roll around the stationary car 16, and thus turn the frame 22 and the ucketcarrying arm thereon around the vertical spindle 13 as an axis. This is a simple arrangement of parts, entirely efficient for the purpose in view, and the shape of the members is such as to largely protect the gear teeth, so that injury thereto is not probable. The gear member 25 being a thin metal sheet which could easily be bent out of its proper plane, is provided with an arcuate slot 26 struck around the trunnion 21 as a center. A pin 27 is riveted in the member 22 and has a body projecting outwardly from said plane member and a head 28 lying on theoutside of the slot 26, as shown in Fig. 2. This pin and slot connection strengthens the device, and renders its operation "more certain, but is otherwise not essential.

Carried between one of the supports 9, and the upright 8 is a horizontal bar 29, to which is riveted a U-shaped metal plate 30 having horizontally extending ends 31 with holes 32 through the middle portion thereof. A 'manikin 33 is fixed to-a metal, plate 34 which has riveted thereto a pin '35, adapted to pass downward through the holes 32, leaving the manikin free to rotate with said pin as anaxis. A cord 36 is attached to an arm 37 of the manikin at one end, and'at "the other to one end of a weight member 38 which is riveted onto a depending valve or gate 39 which controls the open bottom ofbucket 20.

This bucket is attached to terminal 19 0f theswinging member above described, and is of hopper shape, with a flaring mouthpiece 41. The entire bottom of this bucket is open, but normally is closed by the, ate 39 whichis i'n'theform of a U-shaped s eet metal member having vertical wings 42 extending upward to a in 43 fixed in the side o'f'the bucket,'so t at the wilve is free to swing on thepinas an axis. Atthe rear end, this gate valve is turned upward to form a'wall 44, to prevent escape of material 'from'the rear side. The weight member '38 fixed on thebottom of the valve, or gate, extends rearwardly. a considerable distance, forminga counterweight holding the valve normally shut, with its top pressed against the'bottom of bucket 20,.at the forward edge, as shown in Fig. 1,,the escape of material from the rear being prevented by the upturned edge or wall 44.

The storage hopper 5 has an outlet .45 at its'lower end of large area compared tothe size of the bucket to be, filled and this opening is controlledby a swinging gate valve 4:7,wliic11'is of substantiallythe sameform as the valve 39 controlling the bottom of the bucket. That is, it has a slanting bottom 47, with upwardly extending wings 48 havingholes therein engaging a pin 49*fiXed in the wallet hopper 5', and formin an axis abeut which the valve swings. The gate has a raised edge at the rear forming a wall 50, and a depending arm 51, as shown in Fig. 6. This arm is used in coep'eration with the swinging bucket to open the valve. It also acts as a counterweight, assisting in the'jquick and complete closure of the valve. By "this construction'the opening 45 in the bottom of hopper 5 is quicklyopened completely, and as readily entirely closed byfthe swinging of the above described gate valve, actuated by arrival and departure of the bucket.

The operation of the device is as'follows'z-The hopper 5 is filled with sand, or any other heavy, easily flowing dry substance. Escape therefrom is prevented by the Valve i7 which'is keptnormally in closed position, as shown in Fig.6. After the reservoir is filled, theswi'nging bucket-carry ing arm '17 is released from lowermost'po sition,and by the force of counterweight 18 swings around andupw'ardly to load-receiving position, the flared inner edge Ll of the bucket striking the depending arm 51 off the reservoir valve, and'by the impact moving it quicklyand' completelyto the left to'the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7, allowing material inthe hopper to'fl'o'w freely there'- from into the bucket 40.- The size of the bucket is so determii'i'ed with regard to'the counterweight 18 and the weightof material used 'to operate the toythat before the bucket is overfilled sufficient load will be contained therein to overcome the efle'ct of the counterweight and cause the arm 17 to swing outward and downward by gravity of the load. As this takes place the valve l controlling the main hopper follows the departing. bucket, closing the outlet from the hopper so'that' no material escapes exc'ept intothe bucket, whichther'eupon swings outward and downward to the position shown in Fig. 2. The length of cord 36 'isso adjusted that when the bucket arrives over receptacle 51, thegate 39 is'pulled back into the position shown in Fig. 2, allowing the entire contents of the bucket to be imme diately discharged into said receptacle. \Vhereupon the counterweight which is of the proper weight to operate the crane upward when the bucket is empty, causes the arm toswing inreverse direction to loadreceiving position. The counterweight is so adjusted that there is suificient momentum, or impact, at the end of this reverse swing to actuate the controlling valve of the hopper so that a load is immediately discharged therefrom through the large opening 45 into the bucket, and the direction of movement of the latter receptacle changes without appreciable delay, swinging backward to discharging position, where the icadisremeved also withoutdelay, and the operation continues until the main reservoir -is-ei'npt ied.

By this construction it will be observed that the arm swings continuously and laterally from loading to unloading position, receiving a load instantly upon arrivalat the hopper, and discharging it instantly upon'arrival at the'lo'wer limit of'its'travel. The particular forms of valves provided in the hopper and in the bucket 'a-void the necessity for any mecl'iani'cal locks to hold them in open position for discharging material, and render their closing quick and certain.

In my copending application, Serial No. 14%,789, filed January 2st, 1917, a toy is described in which a car on'an inclinethtrack is operated by a load discharged from hopper, as in this case. One fe'atur'e of that invention is the useof a supplementaiyloadmeasuring hopper, which is filled rom an outlet of comparatively small area while the car is carrying a load to a distance and there discharging it. This supplementary measuring hopper isdesigned to justhol'd' a load rorthe transporting member, and it iscontrolled at the bottom" by a gate valve adapted to'disc'harg'e the cntiremeasured l'oadiiito' the carupon its arrival under the main storreservoir. This form of load delivery mechanism may be applied to the crane mechanism of the present case, by using the supplementary hopper as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. partial side"elevation is shown, Fig.8 having the valve in closed position, and'Fig. 9 in open position. This valve is the "same that sliown'in Figs. sand 'T','the difference beingonly in the use of the supplementary measuring rece radet and a more restricted outlet 15 frommainhhpoer 5; For full er details of operation "O'flfill device reference is made to my copending' application. v I I Furthermore, 'it will be apparent that the particular-form of valve and load-delivery means'shownin Figs. 1 to? hereimniay be applied to the hopper of my said ccpending' application, so -that thecar' \iii'llreceiveits load directly from the main hopper upon arrival atthe topof the track, as in theea' se of the bucket, as firstdeseribedhereinabove. I claim: I 1. In an automatic toy comprising"aloads'toring hopperhaving outlet from the bottom thereof, a movable member adapted to receive an operative load from the hopper and to discharge it at a distance therefrom, the combination of a valve controlling the outlet from the hopper, said outlet being of large area compared to the movable load-carrying member, and means extending across the path of travel of the transporting member adapted to entirely open the valve upon arrival of the transporting member beneath the outlet from the hopper, the outlet being of such size as to immediately discharge an operative load into the transporting member.

2. In an automatic toy comprising a loadstoring hopper and a non-tilting movable member adapted to receive an operative load from the hopper and to transport and discharge said load at a distance, the combination of an outlet from said hopper of large area compared to the size of the load-carrying member, a valve controlling said outlet, means to completely open said valve immediately upon arrival of the transporting member beneath the hopper, so as to deliver at once an operative load to the transporting member, and means to close the valve by removal of the transporting member from beneath the hopper.

3. In an automatic toy comprising a load carrying bucket, a load-storing hopper having an outlet port in the bottom thereof, and a valve controlling said outlet, said valve being of large area compared to the size of the load-carrying bucket, the combination of a swinging crane, a bucket on one end thereof, a counterweight on the other end, and a depending arm fixed on the bottom of said valve and extending across the path of travel of said bucket, whereby the valve is operated by swinging of the bucket underneath the hopper to discharge an operative load from said hopper to said bucket.

4. In an automatic toy comprising a loadstoring hopper having an outlet port in the bottom thereof, and a. valve controlling said outlet, the combination of a swinging arm, a bucket on one end thereof, a counterweight on the other end, a depending arm fixed on the bottom of said valve and extending across the path of travel of said bucket, whereby the valve is operated by swinging of the bucket underneath the hopper to discharge a load from said hopper to said bucket, and means to discharge the load from the bucket at a distance from the hop per through a gate valve in the bottom of the bucket.

5. The combination in a toy comprising a 1oadstorage hopper having an outlet in the bottom thereof and a gate valve controlling said outlet, of a swinging crane member having a counterweight at one end, and a bucket at the other, of a valve in said bucket comprising a swinging gate normally closing the bottom of the bucket, a. weighted lever arm tending to close the bucket valve, and a cord adapted to open the bucket valve upon arrival of the bucket at a predetermined limit of travel. 7

6. In an automatic toy, the combination with a storage hopper and a movable receptacle adapted to traverse immediately underneath said hopper to receive a load therefrom and to discharge said load at a distance, of a valve controlling a discharge opening from said hopper, and means operated by the movable receptacle on its arrival underneath the hopper for opening said valve, said discharge opening from the hopper and said valve being arranged to supply a complete operative load to said receptacle during its traverse across and back underneath said discharge opening.

7. In an automatic toy, the combination with a storage hopper and a laterally movable receptacle adapted to receive an operative load from said hopper and to discharge it at a distance therefrom, of a valve controlling a discharge from said hopper, andmeans for opening the valve by the movable receptacle upon its arrival underneath said discharge means, said valve and said discharge means being arranged to supply to the movable receptacle a complete operative load during its traverse across and back underneath the discharge means.

8. An automatic toy, comprising a. loadstoring hopper having a comparatively large outlet port in the bottom thereof, a valve controlling said outlet and having a depending arm attached to the bottom thereof, a swinging pivotally mounted arm having a bucket of small size compared to the outlet from the storage hopper at one end thereof, a counterweight heavier than the empty bucket at the other end, a valve controlling the bottom of the bucket and having a depending counterweight for holding said valve normally closed, and a cord attached to the bucket valve whereby to discharge the load being transported upon arrival of the bucket at a predetermined point, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

BENJAMIN F. BAIN.

WVitness GLENN H. LERESGHE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patent, Washington, D. C. 

